E-Business
Minister Seeks Digitalization of Indigenous Languages
_10.jpg)
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, minister of Information and Culture, has advocated the digitization of indigenous languages in order to avoid them going into extinction.
Speaking yesterday in Kaduna at the 2017 edition of the Annual Round Table on Cultural Orientation (ARTCO), organised by National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Alhaji Mohammed said languages should go digital on various Internet platforms where youths and children are familiar with, so that they could begin to pick up their mother tongue from such electronic devices.
While commending the NICO for its work in the promotion of Nigerian languages over the years, the minister promised that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was committed to according Nigeria culture its pride of place in the developmental agenda of the country.
“We will leave no stone unturned to ensure that our cherished cultural legacies and values are transmitted from one generation to another.
“The importance of indigenous language to national development cannot be over-emphasized. Language is the soul of culture; it is an indispensable tool for the promotion and preservation of culture. We cannot be genuinely committed to the promotion of our culture without addressing the serious issue of language endangerment and extinction.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that our indigenous languages are endangered and if urgent steps are not taken, they will go into extinction in no distant future.
“Situation reports show that there is a remarkable decline in the usage of our indigenous languages by our children and youths; many of them cannot read or write in their mother tongue.
“This is not surprising because, according to Nigerian writer Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezigbo, indigenous languages have been labelled as “vernacular’’ or “garbage’’ and as such, most African children in primary and secondary schools are even punished for speaking their mother tongues. That should never be the case.
“It has been my desire since I assumed duties as Honourable Minister to convene a strategic stakeholders’ meeting to underscore the relevance of the indigenous language newspapers and to engineer a road map for their sustenance in the face of formidable challenges. This explains why one of my first assignments in office was to visit identifiable indigenous newspapers like Alaroye, Iroyin Owuro, Rariya, Aminiya and Leadership Hausa.
“The visits convinced me, more than ever, that indigenous language newspapers have a vital role to play in reviving the fortunes of our endangered languages, if their potentials are maximized.
“The way forward is to fashion out strategies to address the problem. We must take urgent steps to encourage parents to ensure that their children are taught our indigenous languages. The teaching and learning of Nigerian indigenous languages as contained in the National Policy in Education must be fully implemented. Various platforms, such as the indigenous language newspapers, which promote the use of indigenous languages, should be supported and sustained.
“Beyond encouraging the teaching of indigenous languages to young people, a critical catalyst remains the engagement of young people via platforms popular with them. I am talking about, for example, translating our incredible treasure trove of literature, brimming with exciting classics such as The Lion and the Jewel, The Passport of Mallam Illia and Things fall apart not only into indigenous languages but also by adapting those classics into comics, graphic novels, TV shows as well as animated and live action feature films.
“These remain extremely popular media, especially among those aged below 30 years and who form a massive 70% of the population, where the storytelling is primed to excite, engage and enlighten. Indeed, not only will this optimize access to the wondrous worlds and richly realized characters teeming in these works, the exercise stands to reintroduce the younger generation to the rich and remarkable mosaic that is Nigerian culture, instill and inspire in them a strong bond with said culture as well as facilitate a greater understanding of their cultural identity and place in the world.
“The role of the electronic media in disseminating, aggregating and curating our indigenous languages cannot be overemphasized. There is serious potential in the plethora of programmes on radio, television and on the web to spread the comprehension, appreciation and adoption of indigenous languages.
“Still on the theme of electronically engaging the youth, it is imperative to deploy digital tools in ensuring the survival of our indigenous languages. Today, social media, YouTube, texting and specially developed applications for use on mobile devices are being used to attract young people to learning ‘endangered languages’.
“There are also websites and online forums where people can interact and optimize their knowledge of those languages. Those solutions are worth exploring seriously. An aggressive, digital approach to the challenges of preserving our indigenous languages for posterity will definitely yield great dividends especially among the youth” he said.
Nigerian Senate, on Tuesday, passed for first reading a bill aimed at amending the Nigerian Data Protection Act of 2023.
The amendment seeks to compel major social media platforms—including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and other independent bloggers—to establish physical offices in Nigeria.
The bill is titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigerian Data Protection Act, 2023, Mandating the Establishment of Physical Offices within the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Social Media Platforms, and for Related Matters, 2025.”
It was introduced by Senator Ned Nwoko, a lawmaker from Delta State.
The bill not only mandates that the social media platforms set up physical offices in Nigeria, but also seeks to regulate bloggers operating in the country.
It proposes that bloggers must establish verifiable offices in any Nigerian capital city, maintain proper employee records, and join a recognised association based in Abuja.
During the Senate debate, Nwoko highlighted Nigeria’s significant digital presence, referencing a report from Global Web Index shared by Business Insider Africa.
With a population of over 200 million, Nigeria ranks second globally in social media engagement.
Nwoko argued that having local offices is long overdue, noting that the absence of such offices creates challenges, including limited local representation and difficulties for users and businesses to engage directly with these platforms.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, acknowledged the potential benefits of having these social media platforms establish local offices, particularly in terms of improving regulatory oversight and ensuring compliance.
However, Akpabio urged caution regarding the regulation of bloggers, stressing the importance of protecting online expression.
“It’s beneficial to have an address, but bloggers are a bit different. The best approach is for the bill to go for a second reading, followed by a public hearing to provide more clarity,” Akpabio said.
He emphasised that the intent of the bill was not to suppress social media, but rather to improve taxation and record-keeping for digital platforms in Nigeria.
The Senate has also tasked the Committee on ICT and Cyber Security to conduct a thorough review of the bill and report its findings in two months.
Google said Tuesday it will acquire cloud security platform Wiz for $32 billion, citing the need for greater cybersecurity capacity as artificial intelligence embeds itself in technology infrastructure.
The all-cash deal brings Wiz into the Google Cloud operation, boosting the capacity of consumers to use “multiple clouds” and providing “an end-to-end security platform for customers, of all types and sizes, in the AI era,” the companies said in a joint press release.
The deepening influence of AI makes “cybersecurity increasingly important in defending against emergent risks and protecting national security,” the companies said.
The transaction, the largest ever sought by Google or parent Alphabet, will test President Donald Trump’s openness to large takeovers after resistance to such deals by the administration of Joe Biden.
Alphabet had been close to a Wiz takeover last summer, but the deal fell apart due in part to regulatory concerns, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Started in 2020 by Assaf Rappaport, co-founder and CEO, and a team who sold a previous venture to Microsoft, Wiz will continue to work and provide services to platform led by other tech giants including Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.
Wiz is based in New York, with offices in Tel Aviv and three other US cities.
In a webcast after the deal was announced, Rappaport said the service “continuously scans an organization’s code and cloud environments, monitoring them in real time” to “prioritize the most critical risk based on real impact and blocks active threats.”
Dare Olufunmilayo, founder and CEO of Darey.io, has said that the reason for the establishment of a physical tech hub in Lagos is to expand on the digital talents they have started building especially pushing its artificial intelligent initiatives further.
Speaking at the launch of the hub, he described the moment as more than just the opening of a new office but the beginning of a transformative movement.
“Today is not just about celebrating a new office space; it is about launching a movement, a revolution in how we learn, build careers, and create opportunities in the tech ecosystem,” he stated.
The event’s theme, “Tech & Tea: Brewing Nigeria’s Technology Innovation Future,” reflects the belief that building a thriving digital economy requires the right mix of talent, innovation, and collaboration.
Olufunmilayo likened the process to brewing the perfect cup of tea, requiring the right mix of talent, innovation, and partnerships.
“Just like brewing the perfect tea, building a thriving digital economy requires the right ingredients: talent, innovation, and collaboration,” he noted.
He also acknowledged the critical role of various stakeholders, including the Nigerian government, tech leaders, and industry partners.
“None of this would be possible without the ecosystem we are a part of. The government’s 3MTT initiative is playing a crucial role in creating a future-ready workforce,” he said, recognizing the contributions of government efforts, partners, and the dedicated Darey.io team.
Reflecting on the journey that led to this milestone, Olufunmilayo highlighted the company’s mission to empower Africans with world-class digital skills and bridge the gap between talent and opportunity.
“A few years ago, we started with a bold vision: to empower Africans with world-class digital skills and bridge the gap between talent and opportunity.
“We believed that, with the right platform, the right training, and the right mindset, anyone—no matter their background—could go from learning to earning in the global digital economy.”
That vision, he emphasized, has now become a reality. “Thousands of Nigerians have started their careers through Darey.io, working for top global companies, launching startups, and creating ground-breaking solutions.”
With the launch of Xterns.ai, the initiative is taking an even greater leap forward. “Xterns.ai is our next big leap—where we don’t just train talents; we integrate them directly into the workforce through our Proof-of-Skills Hiring model,” Olufunmilayo explained.
Speaking at the launch, Francis Sani, Technical Adviser for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Capital to the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, highlighted Nigeria’s demographic advantage.
He noted that Nigeria has the largest youth population in Africa, with a median age of 16 years, compared to 38 in the U.S. and 46 in Japan. This, he said, positions the country as a key player in the global tech competitiveness race.
However, Sani emphasized that access to quality training and employment pathways remains a significant challenge. “We have the talent, we have the ambition, but we must scale up digital skills to compete globally,” he stated.
Senate Votes to Compel Facebook, Others to Open Offices in Nigeria
Google to Buy Cybersecurity Company Wiz for $32Bn
MTN Group to Invest $10Bn in African Expansion by 2030
ATCON Calls for Telecom Policy Improvements in Nigeria
9mobile Reinforces Innovation Leadership with Echoes, Its Trailblazing AI Storytelling Platform
General News3 days agoJumia Nigeria Kicks Off Tech Week 2025
Telecom3 days agoBridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide: ITU and UK-FCDO Fuel Rural Connectivity Revolution
E-Financial3 days agoSEC Voids Mainland Trust’s Registration, Suspends Centurion Registrars
E-Business3 days agoNITDA Expands iHATCH Initiative to Drive Job Creation, Economic Diversification
Telecom2 days agoMTN’s Earnings Hammered by Free Falling Naira in Nigeria
E-Business2 days agoFG Partners Cyberpedia to Fight Misinformation with AI
Telecom3 days agoTransforming Lives Through Advocacy: Princess Omoyemwen Inspires Change at MTN’s Go MAD Activation in Benin
Telecom2 days agoFG to Launch $2Bn Fibre Network Project in Q4 2025